Meet The Team

LegUp Equestrian has a valued team that help to make us what we are today. Below is our current team.

LegUp Equestrian Officials

For members copies of the constitution are available upon request.

Peter Goldstraw – Chairperson

Bio:Carolyn’s husband. Peter is often to be seen around Myrefield or at various events holding horses or a camera. A keen equestrian and sports photographer. He has his own equestrian photography website www.legup-photography.co.uk

Peter’s Facts: Attended foundation and starting young horses/dealing with the more difficult horse Monty Roberts/ Intelligent horsemanship courses. Peter has a particular talent for loading horses.

Favourite Horse: Florence ‘she’s a special horse, both in competition and at home she’s a dream. Through her operations she has showed an incredible will to live. I have never had another connection with a horse that has affected me as much.

Marilyn Paul – Treasurer

Bio:Carolyn’s Mum – Often to be seen at LegUp events playing the role of entry secretary or helping with providing food and drink.

Marilyn’s Facts: Originally scared of cats and dogs let alone being involved with horses! Dragged around all the usual pony club stuff while Carolyn was growing up.

Favourite Horse: Cloud (12.2hh) he was full of character and nobodies fool, a memorable pony which gave Carolyn some of her first successes.

Ann Hassall – Committee member

Bio:Carolyn’s Mother in law – Often found helping out in the yard or on LegUp show days often enjoys assisting the judges as a steward.

Ann’s Facts: Enjoys mucking out nick name ‘Poo girl!’ Also recently had a promotion from ring steward to judge (judging the Bonny pony!)

Favourite Horse:She loves them all but when forced chose Misty (14.2hh welsh D) because of her lovely temperament to handle and be around.

Tim Hassall – Committee member

Bio:Carolyn’s father in law – Often to be found at LegUp shows running the collecting ring or opening the ring entrances at the start and end of classes.

Tim’s Facts: An ex policeman, Tim Loves racing and would love to own a racehorse.

Favourite Horse: Bobby because he’s an ex racehorse! (a very slow one!)

Sarah James – Committee member

Bio:Often to be found helping out on show days doing any job as needed.

Sarah’s Facts: Only recently started learning to ride. Should be a quick learner though as she passed 7 GCSE’s at age 13 at B and above.

Favourite Horse: Florence because she was the first horse I ever rode and she has always been so good to be around.

George Paul – Team Member

Bio:Carolyn’s dad – occasionally seen at Myrefield or helping at the odd LegUp show usually judging show jumping.

George’s Facts: Once broke his fingers while helping load somebody else’s horse when he slipped on the ramp and the horse then stood on his hand! Used to commentate at pony club mounted games competitions. Treats his cats Monty and Nusa like gods.

Favourite Horse: Ginny (14.2hh) memorable for her fiery temperament good looks and winning spirit.

Joy Williamson – Team Member

Bio:Often to be found at LegUp shows dealing with entries or any other jobs that needs doing

Joy’s Facts: Originally introduced when Carolyn gave Joys daughter ‘Sarah’ riding lessons. Sarah still rides and has since gone on to have 2 young children all are fans of Carolyn’s horse ‘Florence’, so much so Sarah named her daughter after her.

Favourite Horse: Boyero daughter Sarah’s Argentinean Polo Cross pony, ‘when he arrived he was originally very nervous around people, overtime his character started to appear he had both an affectionate and a grumpy side. We kept him through to the end and everyone loved him.

Karol Ramsden – Team Member

Bio:Usually found applying her various skills to any tasks as needed at the shows as well as helping out round the yard, her speciality is the handling of youngstock and more difficult horses.

Karol’s Facts: Worked as a professional show jumping groom for Paul Schockemohle and then John Whitaker one of her favourite horses was a naughty Schockemohle stallion called Coralecho.

Favourite Horse: Croft – (pictured left) ‘Unfortunately I lost him at the beginning of 2009 aged 17. I owned him from being a 2 years old, he saw me through many difficult times in my life. He was a very loving horse who would whinny to me every morning. He could be highly strung and dominant, I watched him grow and improve, he had many wins in the ring including being overall points champion for ridden and inhand at Penistone Riding Club and qualifying for the Veteran Horse Society classes.’

Sooty Goldstraw – Mascot

Bio:Resident cat, stress toy and mouser. Often to be found on warmer days (when not stretched out on the sofa) snoozing in a plant pot in the yard, around the feed room, or in the long grass near the arena hunting for anything that moves.

Sooty’s Facts: Probably has one of the loudest cat meows in the country, Likes to tell everybody he has not been fed even when he has.

Favourite Horse: None! They just occasionally come in useful if they are tied up outside the stables to take a short cut jumping off the stable roof on to their backs then onto the ground.